On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day trip to Brazil as part of his complex strategy to build bridges between developed countries and the so-called Global South. He also wants to persuade Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to take a position on the war started by Russia. This was reported by UNN with reference to Bloomberg.
"The main thing on his agenda will be an attempt to convince Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to take a certain position on the war. So far, Lula has tried to position his country as a neutral state that can maintain ties with both Russia and Ukraine. Macron has become one of the strongest voices in the conflict, warning Western allies that Russian President Vladimir Putin poses a threat to the existence of the European Union," the report said.
It is noted that Lula, for her part, wants Macron to end his opposition to the free trade agreement between the EU and the South American bloc Mercosur, which is in limbo after reaching a political agreement in 2019.
The French leader is betting that his differences with Lula over Russia's invasion of Ukraine can be narrowed, the officials added, although Brazil believes both sides share the blame for the war.
"Lula has repeatedly refused to arm Ukraine, arguing that the US and EU strategy undermines the prospect of a negotiated solution. Brazil's position resonates strongly in the Global South, which refers to emerging economies," the report said.
Addendum
In April 2023, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday again called for a negotiated settlement of the war between Kyiv and Moscow.